1. Contrary to the interpretation of federal prosecutors, Seattle investigators maintain that statements Joseph Edward Duncan III made about the deaths of two little girls a decade ago do not constitute a confession, and they are not ready to seek charges here.

2. The Catholic Diocese of Spokane appears to be a week away from taking a significant, formal step to get out of bankruptcy and settle its clergy sex abuse scandal here.

3. Look around you, writes Shea Andersen/Boise Weekly, and they are everywhere: former newspaper and television reporters, refugees from the deadline-driven life, happily ensconced in Boise. A working journalist can reasonably expect to encounter a former member of the Fourth Estate on the phone, or in meetings, perhaps. But in Boise, you can't swing a laptop without hitting a former newsperson here.

4. The Federal Way School Board has lifted its two-week moratorium on the global-warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" and members of a Yakima high school after-school club await a decision from school officials on whether they can show the film here.

5. Tom Forbes/Palousitics raises questions about the unequal treatment given by WSU administrators and student press to two recent rallies on campus -- a young Demos rally in support of abortion and a young Repubs rally against illegal immigration here.